Knitting picker and frame



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ATTORNEY G ALBERT KNITTING PICKER AND FRAME Filed May 26. 1943 April 18, 1944.

April 18, 1944. e. ALBERT 2,347,069

KNITTING PICKER AND FRAME Filed May 26, '1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllll lllll IN VEN TOR. ea ge Al t- A 'TORNEY Patented Apr. 18, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING PICKER AND FRAME George Albert, New York, N. Y. Application May 26, 1943, Serial No. 488,509

6 Claims. (01. 66-4) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a knitting picker and frame.

More particularly, the invention proposes the construction of a device as mentioned which is characterized by a support having a forwardly projecting portion pivotally supporting a bar intermediate of its ends in a certain way. It is proposed to provide this bar with a plurality of loop supporting elements along its front and rear faces for supporting the top loops of a tubular knitted article. With this arrangement it is possible to knit tubular articles by continuously knitting around from the front loop supporting elements to and along the back loop supporting elements. It is possible to select various diameters for these knitted articles merely by including-more or less of the loop supporting elements.

It is furthermore proposed to utilize a loop picker of a certain construction for starting and continuing the knitting of tubular articleson said device.

Various forms of the invention are proposed. In one form the bar previously mentioned may be relatively thick, as for example of an inch or inch in thickness. With this construction the tubular knitted article will have parallel threads along diametrically opposite sides.

In another form of the invention it is proposed to construct the bar very thin, for example of sheet metal sections, so that it is no thicker than 1% inch or perhaps /8 inch. With this construction the knitting around the tubular article will be continuous. An adjustable construction is also proposed with which the lengths of the parallel threads may be controlled.

Still further the invention contemplates pointing out that the parallel threads at the sides of the knitted articles may themselves be knitted together with a standard knitting or crochetmg needle.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a knitting picker and frame constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

i Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a tool for facilitating the lifting off of groups of loops from the loop supporting elements previously referred Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the tool shown in Fig. 4 is used.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the underside of one of the ends of the picker tool shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the knitted article shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the method by which the parallel side threads of the article shown in Fig. 7 are knitted together.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a knitting frame constructed in accordance with a modified form of this invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary. plan view of Fig. 9.

The knitting picker and frame, in accordance with that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 8, includes a support 12 having a forwardly projecting portion, or end 13. The support I2 is shown to be in the nature of a bar. It is supported on a jaw 14 of a clamp l5 having a complementary jaw I5 provided with a clamp screw [1. This clamp is shown releasably engaged on the edge of a table [8.

A bar I9 is pivotally supported intermediate of its ends on the bottom of the projecting portion 13. More specifically, the bar I9 is provided with a bracket 20 which is secured on its top edge by fastening elements 2 l. A pintle screw 22 pivotally connects the bracket 26 with the said projecting portion I3. The ends of the bar l9 project laterally of said forwardly projecting portion IS.

A plurality of loop supporting elements 23 are mounted on and project forwards of the front face 19*- of said bar 19. These loop supporting elements 23 support the top loops 24 of the front half of a tubular knitted article 25 being knitted on the frame. A plurality of loop supporting elements 23' are mounted on and project rearwards of the rear face l9 of said bar l9. These loop supporting elements 23' normally support the top loops 24 of the rear half of the said tubular knitted article 25 being knitted on the frame.

A clip 26 is attached to the bottom of the knitted article 25 for pulling it down by its weight and holding it straight. Additional weight like the lead mass 21 is hooked on to the clip 26. The last knitted loop 24 of the knitted article 25 continues into the thread material 28 which is held down by a weight 29 slidably mounted upon it.

A loop picker 3!] is provided for continuing the knitting of the tubular article 25. This loop picker is stamped from sheet metal material. It has end portions 3| and 32. Each of these end portions have a top wall 33 and a vertical wall 34. A prong 35 projects from the top wall 33. A tapered groove 36 is formed in the bottom face of the top wall 33 and extends slightly back of the prong 35. Each loop supporting element 23 and 23' is formed from a length of wire bent at the center and having its ends mounted on the said bar 19. The outer extremities of these loop supporting elements 23 and 23' are bent upwards in the form of hooks 31. These hooks 31 prevent accidental slipping ofi of the loops 24.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The knitted article 25 may be started in the usual way by looping a strand of thread 28 over the loop supporting elements 23 and 23. Weight wires, or other weights may be hooked over the initial loops by which they may be pulled down. The knitting is then carried out in the usual way, except for this difference. When the knitting operation reaches one side of the tubular knitted material 25, the bar I9 is swung around 180 so that the loop supporting elements 23 are now at the front, and the knitting operation is then continued. When the knitting operation has progressed completely across the required number of loop supporting elements 23 th bar I9 is swung another 180 and the knitting operation is continued further. In this way the knitted tubular article 25 is formed. However, at those points where the thread passes beneath the bottom edge of the bar IS the thread will not be knitted but will come out in the nature of parallel thread portions 38 (see particularly Fig. 7).

The particular knitted article shown in Figs. 1 and 7 is in the nature of a cufl' for a pair of knickers or other similar article. The parallel thread portions 38 at the side distinguish this cuff from other cuffs. However, if these side parallel thread portions are not wanted they may be knitted together with a standard knitting or crocheting needle 33, as illustrated in Fig. 8. It is merely necessary to start at the top, and loop the parallel threads 38 together and progress downwards, and then upwards and then downwards again, in the usual knitting fashion.

One or the other end of the loop picker 30 may be used during the knitting operation depending upon whether a right handed or left handed person is using the same, or whether the knitting operation is progressing from right to left, or from left to right. When a right handed person is using the picker and the knitting operation is progressing from right to left, the end 32 is used to pick the loops 24. The groove 36 in the top wall 33 is guided along the upward projecting hooks 3? of the loop supporting elements 23 and 23. The vertical wall 34 will depress the yarn until the top wall rests on the hook 37, which determines the depth of the yarn, for the desired size of stitch. Then the prong 33 is engaged beneath one of the loops 24 which is then pulled and lifted over the length of the unknitted thread 28 and dropped over the extremity of the loop supporting element 23 or 23. Then this same operation is carried out with the next loop 24. In this way the knitting operation is continued until the article is completed.

In Figs. 4 and a tool has been illustrated by which the loops 24 may readily be moved in groups, and even lifted off the loop supporting elements 23 and 23' when desired. This tool comprises a bar 39 having a plurality of loop picking elements 40 mounted on one face. Each of these p picking elements 40 is formed from a piece of wire bent at the center so as to have a point 4| and parallel side arms 42. These side arms 42 are mounted on the bar 39. In Fig. 5 the tool is shown moving several of the loops 24 forwards. The points 4| may be slipped under the loops 24 and the loops lifted as a group off of the hooks 31.

In Figs. 9 and 10 a modified form of the invention is disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the construction of the bar l9. This bar is made from several sections. There is a relatively broad top section 45 and an adjacent pair of very thin sections 46 and 41 adjustably mounted on the bottom of the top section 45. This top section 45 is provided with several transverse slots 48 through which fastening elements 49 pass. These fastening elements engage top flanges 50 formed on the top of the sections 46 and 41. These sections 46 and 47 are preferably formed from relatively thin sheet metal. The plurality of loop supporting elements 23 and 23 are mounted on the outer faces of th sections 46 and 41. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to that previously shown and like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the several views.

The operation of this form of the invention is substantially identical to the prior form distinguishing in the fact that the knitted article 25' will lack the parallel thread portions at the sides, such as the thread portions 38, because the sections 48 and 41 are so very thin. However, if it is desired to knit the article 25' with the parallel thread portions at the sides, it is merely necessary to loosen the fastening elements 49 and shift them outwards in the slots 48. This separates the sections 43 and 47. When the device now used it will knit parallel thread portions, such as the threads 38,- at the sides.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A knitting picker and frame, comprising a support having a forwardly projecting portion, a bar pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon the bottom of and having its end portion projecting laterally of said forwardly projecting portion, a plurality of loop supporting elements mounted on and projecting forwards of the front face of said bar for supporting the top loops of the front half of a tubular knitted article being knitted on said frame, and a plurality of loop supporting elements mounted on and projecting rearwards' of the rear face of said bar for supporting the top loops of the rear half of a tubular knitted article being knitted on said frame.

2. A knitting picker and frame. comprising a support having a forwardly projecting portion, a bar pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon the bottom of and having its end portions projecting laterally of said forwardly projecting portion, a plurality of loop supporting elements mounted on and projecting forwards of the front face of said bar for supporting the top loops of the front half of a tubular knitted article being knitted on said frame, and a plurality of loop supporting elements mounted on and projecting rearwards of the rear face of said bar for supporting the top loops of the rear half of a tubular knitted article being knitted on said frame, said loop supporting elements comprising pieces of wire bent at their centers and mounted by their side arms on said bar.

3. A knitting picker and frame, comprising a support having a forwardly projecting portion, a bar pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon the bottom of and having its end portions projecting laterally of said forwardly projecting portion, a plurality of loop supporting elements mounted on and projecting forwards of the front face of said bar for supporting the top loops of the front half of a tubular knitted article being knitted on said frame, and a plurality of loop supporting elements mounted on and projecting rearwards of the rear face of said bar for supporting the top loops of the rear half of a tubular knitted article being knitted on said frame, said loop supporting elements comprising pieces of wire bent at their centers and mounted by their side arms on said bar, each of said loops having an upward turned outer end.

4. A knitting picker and frame, comprising a support having a forwardly projecting portion, a bar pivotally mounted intermediate of its end upon the bottom of and having its end portions projecting laterally of said forwardly projecting portion, a plurality of loop supporting elements mounted on and projecting forwards of the front face of said bar for supporting the top loops of the front half of a tubular knitted article being knitted on said frame, a plurality of loop supporting elements mounted on and projecting rearwards of the rear face of said bar for supporting the top loops of the rear half of a tubular knitted article being knitted on said frame, said bar being formed from a number of sections including adjacent side sections and a top section.

5. A knitting picker and frame, comprising a support having a forwardly projecting portion, a bar pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon the bottom of and having its end portions projecting laterally of said forwardly projecting portion, a plurality of loop supporting elements mounted on and projecting forwards of the front face of said bar for supporting the top loops of the front half of a tubular knitted article being knitted on said frame, a plurality of loop supporting elements mounted on and projecting rearwards of the rear face of said bar for supporting the top loops of the rear half of a tubular knitted article being knitted on said frame, said bar being formed from a number of sections including adjacent side sections and a top section, said side sections being of thin sheet material.

6. A knitting picker and frame, comprising a support having a forwardly projecting portion, a bar pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon the bottom of and having its end portions projecting laterally of said forwardly projecting portion a plurality of loop supporting elements mounted on and projecting forwards of the front face of said bar for supporting the top loops of the front half of a tubular knitted article being knitted on said frame, a plurality of loop supporting elements mounted on and projecting rearwards of the rear face of said bar for supporting the top loops of the rear half of a tubular knitted article being knitted on said frame, said bar being formed from a number of sections including adjacent side sections and a, top section, said side sections being of thin sheet material, and relatively adjustably mounted on the top section.

GEORGE ALBERT. 

